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# The State of the Church
- URL: https://www.dashhouse.com/2016630the-state-of-the-church/
- Published: 2016-06-30T11:08:28.000Z
- Updated: 2022-08-15T15:24:49.000Z
- Author: Darryl Dash
- Tags: Blog, Church, #DashHouseCom, #wp

I used to get discouraged about the state of the big-c Church. If you want to find fault with churches, it’s easy. My cynicism grew and it began to corrode my soul.

I don’t get discouraged about the state of the Church anymore. Here are a few reasons why.

![](https://www.dashhouse.com/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/img1.jpg)

## I’ve seen more of the church.

Now that I’m a church planter, I get to speak at a lot of other churches. I love what I see. As I travel throughout my area, I keep finding churches that are flourishing. They never make the news, but they’re there.

## I’ve learned something about culture.

It’s easy to look at culture and get overwhelmed. Ray Ortlund has helped shift my attitude with tweets like this:

> The last time our nation plunged into intense self-injury, God also moved in healing power. He can do it again. [pic.twitter.com/8KpA5RNN6S](https://t.co/8KpA5RNN6S?ref=dashhouse.com)
> 
> — Ray Ortlund (@rayortlund) [May 20, 2016](https://twitter.com/rayortlund/status/733678613611073536?ref=dashhouse.com)

These are exciting times to be in ministry. The good old days never existed. God has given us this moment in which to serve, and it’s a good moment.

## I’ve rediscovered the gospel.

It’s a cliché but it’s true. The gospel changes the way we view small, messy churches and the people within them. I’m a lot more comfortable with the jars of clay I see all around me than I used to be. [Jared Wilson put it well](https://blogs.thegospelcoalition.org/justintaylor/2010/03/27/the-gospel-frees-you-to-chill-the-heck-out/?ref=dashhouse.com): the gospel frees us to chill the heck out. It’s made me a better pastor.

These are three reasons I’m not discouraged about the state of the Church.

![The State of the Church](https://www.dashhouse.com/content/images/v7/dashhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/img1.jpg)